Coin-operated lock

ABSTRACT

A coin-operated lock which comprises a lockbox including a lock bottom and lockbox sidewalls, as well as a lock cover. A cylinder lock is secured to the lock cover including a cylinder core. The latter carries at its end a closing wing including a driver pin. A locking latch has a driver slot and the latter receives the driver pin. A spring-biased locking ratchet is coordinated to the locking latch, and a coin is adapted to be displaced jointly with the locking latch and to lift the locking ratchet with its edge during the advancement. A locking plate is disposed above the locking ratchet sitting rigidly on the locking latch and cooperates in a tumberlike arrangement with the locking ratchet.

W o Unite tates 72] inventor H-lleinz Ten lEicken lilleiligenlhnus,Germany 1 21] Appl. No. 861,724 [22] Filed Sept. 29, 1969 {45] PatentedNov. 23, 1971 3'73] Assignee Schlossfabrilr Schulte-Schlagbaum AGTonisheide, Germany [32] Priority Apr. 19, 1969 [3 3] Germany {31] G6915727.3

1 54] CORN-OPERATED LOCK 8 Claims, 1 11 Drawing Figs.

{52] U.S.Cl 194/59 {511] G07i1l7/14 {50] Field oliSearcli 194/59, 51,74, 17

i561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,828 5/1908 Lippert194/59 X 2,603,334 7/1952 Curren 194/59 FOREIGN PATENTS 870.374 12/1941France 194/59 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavidA. Scherbei Attorney-Ernest G. Montague ABSTRACT: A coin-operated lockwhich comprises a lockbox including a lock bottom and lockbox sidewalls,as well as a lock cover. A cylinder lock is secured to the lock coverincluding a cylinder core. The latter carries at its end a closing wingincluding a driver pin. A locking latch has a driver slot and the latterreceives the driver pin. A springbiased locking ratchet is coordinatedto the locking latch. and a coin is adapted to be displaced jointly withthe locking latch and to lift the locking ratchet with its edge duringthe advancement. A locking plate is disposed above the locking ratchetsitting rigidly on the locking latch and cooperates in a tumberlikearrangement with the locking ratchet.

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ll COIN-OPERATED LOCK The present invention relates to a lock with alocking function to be operable by insertion of a coin.

It is one object of the present invention, to provide a coinoperatedlock, which is of simple structure and designed such that a high usesafety is present also in view of a nonpermissible locking, and whichlock can be equipped with a favorable structure with a device for thereturn of the coin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin-operatedlock, wherein the coin jointly with the latch or the like displacesitself and during its advance lifts with its edge a spring biasedlocking ratchet coordinated to the latch, whereby a locking plate isprovided above the locking ratchet, which locking plate cooperates likea tumbler operation with the locking ratchet sitting securely on thelatch.

In accordance with the present invention it is of advantage thereby thatthe locking plate cooperates with its toothed underside pointing towardsthe locking ratchet with an angularly shaped end of the locking ratchet.

A favorable structure design is realized, in accordance with the presentinvention, such, that the locking plate extends parallel above the innerside guide wall of the coin insert slot.

A further advantageous design is obtained, in accordance with thepresent invention, such, that the pin or the like holding the coin inthe coordination to the latch is releasable from its holding position.

In accordance with the present invention it is also of ad vantagethereby, if the pin or the like sits on a plate displaceable crosswiseto the moving direction of the latch, which plate is coupled with anoperating key disposed freely to the lock front side against the effectof a spring.

Also an advantageous feature of the present invention resides in thefact, that the operating key is mounted in the latch and runs in a slotguide of the lock housing bottom such that it forms the latch guide.

Also it is of advantage, in accordance with the present in vention, thata pressure-button-like operating key runs sunk in the opening ofa frame.

Finally. an advantageous solution of the present invention is found inthe fact, that the operating key in case of a displaced latch is lockedagainst pushing in, preferably by an arrangement according to which theoperating key steps out with its inner end from the opposite position toan escape opening in front of the lock cover.

In view to the particular design a coin-operated lock is created, whichis of simple structure with an extremely high security of use. The lockcan be framed particularly favorably as a security lock, that means thecoin remains after the closing in the lock as security for the key andfalls out again when the lock is opened. The lock can, however, beconstructed likewise as a collecting lock, that means the coin fallsinto a closed container. A nondesirable closing of the lock, at whichoccasion the locking ratchet is brought out of its resting position withthe locking latch, by means of a wire inserted through the coin insertslot, is prevented. The locking ratchet enters in case of such sensingadvantageously into a locking position with the locking plate rigidlymounted on the locking latch. No coin examiner needs to be present tosuch coin lock. False coins, which are too small as to their diameter,fall through, while in case of false coins having a too large diameterthe locking ratchet is moved by the edge of the coin into a lockingposition with the locking plate. The locking plate can be providedwithout any difficulty also still afterwards, for instance, by means ofa point welding on the locking latch. The locking plate equipped with atoothed underside is economically manufactured as a stamping part. Theangularly shaped end of the locking ratchet is controlled, on the onehand, by the coin from the recess of the locking latch, while, on theother hand, the angularly shaped end assumes in case of a sensingattempt the locking position with the toothed underside of the lockingplate. The corresponding locking plate cannot be operated by means of anobject inserted into the coin insert slot, as for instance a screwdriveror the like, since it is disposed above the inner side guide wall of thecoin insert slot. The slot can be advantageously equipped without greatendeavor with a coin returning device. Erroneously falsely insertedcoins or damaged coins can be returned, since a holding pin isreleasable from its holding position. This pin is preferably provided ona spring biased plate displaceable substantially crosswise to the movingdirection of the latch. The plate carries the operating key, which isfreely disposed towards the lock front side. By a slight pressure on thekey the pin holding the coin is controlled out of its holding positionover the plate. The key mounted in the locking latch serves also for theguide of the locking latch. It runs thereby in a slot guide of thelock-housing bottom. The otherwise necessary latch guide is omittedthereby, so that the coin lock with the coin return device can beproduced at a favorable price. The structural arrangement, to providethe pushbottonlike operating key sunk in the opening of a frame, servesthe further increase of the safety of use, since a nonintentionaloperation of the return device, for instance by cumbersome packages, isto a great extent prevented. The return function is exclusively possiblein connection with a completely closed latch, since the operating keyenters only in this position in opposite arrangement to the escapingopening of the lock cover arranged in accordance with the presentinvention. In each other position of the latch the return device isblocked by the lock cover, against which the inner end of the operatingkey abuts.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention, which is shown byexample only, will be clearly understood in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a back elevation of the coin-operated lock with the lockinglatch being withdrawn;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the coin-operated lock;

FIG. 3 is an elevation similar to that of FIG. 1, however, with the lockcover being removed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, however, showing the started closingprocess;

FIG. 5 is again a front elevation showing the coin-operated lock uponcompleted closing process in the position in which the key is removable;

FIG. 6 is also an elevation similar to that shown in FIG. 3, wherein thecoin-operated lock has a partly withdrawn locking latch and a freedcoin;

FIG. 7 is a section along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a section similar to that of FIG. 7, however, with a pushed-inoperating key; and

FIGS. 9-11 are fragmentary elevations in an enlarged and simplifiedshowing of the locking plate in different positions of the lockinglatch.

Referring now to the drawings, the coin-operated lock comprises alockbox l.

The lockbox I has sidewalls 3, 4, 5 and 6, which extend at an angle fromthe lock bottom 2. The lock guard is covered up by the lock cover 7,which is secured by means of securing screws 8. The latter enter indistancing bushings 9 and 9', respectively.

A cylinder lock 10 is secured to the cover 7. Its cylinder core 12,operable by means of a key 11 extends into the inside of the lock. Itcarries at its end a closing wing 13, the driver pin 14 of which extendsinto a driver slot 15 or the closing latch 16.

A locking ratchet 17 is swingably mounted above the locking latch 16about the distancing bushing 9'. A holding spring 18 bent like a hairpinand disposed about the distancing bushing 9' engages the locking ratchet17 in the direction of the corresponding narrow longitudinal side 19 ofthe locking latch 16. The narrow longitudinal side 19 is there equippedwith a recess 20 into which the angularly bent end 17' of the lockingratchet l7 enters.

The locking ratchet 17 is coordinated above the latter to a lockingplate 21 sitting rigidly on the locking latch 16. The latter has atoothed bottom side including the recesses 22, 23 and 24.

The locking plate 21 is disposed in the lockbox 1 on the locking latch16 such, that it extends parallel above the inside guide wall of thecoin insert slot 26. The coin insert slot 26 started in the lockbox wall3.

In accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, the lock is disposed in open position.The key 11 is not removable in this position. The angularly bent end 17of the locking ratchet 17 disposed in the recess 20 prevents a closingof the locking latch 16. By a coin insert, and starting closing of thelock 16, the locking ratchet 17 is brought out of engagement with therecess 20 over the coin edge (see FIG. 4). The coin 28 is now advancedby the pin 29 over the supporting shoulder 27, until it slides away fromthe supporting shoulder 27, whereby the resilient locking ratchet 17accelerates shocklike the coin fall.

Thereafter the position shown in FIG. 5 is obtained, in which I positionthe coin 28 is disposed in the mentioned coin-storing chamber.Exclusively in this position can the key 11 by removed by the user. Thecoin remains as a deposit, until the user opens again the lock, wherebythe coin-storing chamber is located above the coin outlet slot 37 andthe coin falls out (see FIG. 6).

If the same above-described lock is to be used as a collecting lock, itis necessary to coordinate a cassette to the coin outlet slot 37.

If due to damaged or erroneously falsely inserted coins a return of thelatter should take place, the operating key 31 is pushed whereby the pin29 is moved over the plate from its position holding the coin 28, sothat the coin passes through and emerges from the slot 38 (see FIG. 8).In case of the latch 16 being advanced, the operating key 31 is lockedagainst the lock cover 7. In the basic position of the lock, the coinreturn device can be successfully operated at any time. In this positionthe operating key 31 is disposed within the range of an escape opening41 of the lock cover 7 (see FIG. 1), so that the plate 30 can bedisplaced a further required length causing the freeing of the coin.Below the insert slot is provided a supporting shoulder 27 on the lockbottom 2, which supporting shoulder limitsjointly with a pin 29 theinsert movement ofthe coin 28. The pin 29 sits on a plate 30displaceable crosswise to the direction of movement of the locking latch16 and passes through an opening 16' of the locking latch 16. Thecorresponding plate 30 is abutted by the blade spring 13 in thedirection towards the wide side of the locking latch 16.

The pushbuttonlike operating key 31 is secured to the plate 30, whichoperating key 31 is mounted in a bushing 32 of the locking latch 16. Thebushing 32 runs in a guide slot 33 ofthe lock bottom 2, whereby thelocking latch guide is formed. The guide slot 33 is framed in accordancewith the slot contour. The corresponding frame 39 has such thickness,that the head 31' of the operating key 31 is sunk in and is therebydisposed protected in the frame opening 40.

The locking latch 16 stands under the effect of a latch spring 34disposed on the bushing 9, which latch spring 34 retains the lockinglatch 16 in its prevailing abutment position.

At the front side of the locking latch 16 is provided a bentover stay 35which guides the coin 28 by means ofa plate 36 sitting on the lockinglatch 16. The coin-storing chamber formed by the stay 35 and the plate36 can be brought into a flush position with a coin outlet slot 37 ofthe lockbox wall 4 depending upon the position ofthe locking latch 16.

Coins which are too small, the diameter of which is smaller than thedistance x between the supporting shoulder 27 and the pin 29, fallthrough and fall out of the slot 38.

The operation ofthe keylock is as follows:

The locking plate 21 equipped at its underside with toothed recesses 22,23 and 24 does not disturb the closing function of the lock in case ofacorrectly inserted coin. A false coin and a coin having a largerdiameter would move during the closing process the locking ratchet 17into the position indicated in point-dotted lines in FIG. 9. Theangularly shaped end 17 enters into the toothed recess 22 of the lockingplate 21. The closing movement is not performable, due to this locking.Likewise, these toothed recesses prevent a closing of the locking latch16 if in a nonpermissible manner the locking ratchet 17 is brought fromthe engaging effect with the opening 20 of the locking latch 16 by meansof a wire put through the coin insert slot 26 and if the angular end 17'enters the toothed opening 22, 23 or 24 (see FIGS. 9 to 11).

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in alimiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. A coin-operated lock, comprising a lockbox including a lock bottomand lockbox sidewalls, as

well as a lock cover,

a cylinder lock secured to said lock cover including a cylinder core,

the latter carrying at its end a closing wing including a driver alocking latch having a driver slot and said driver pin,

a spring-biased locking ratchet being coordinated to said locking latch,and a coin being adapted to be displaced jointly with said locking latchand to lift said locking ratchet with its edge during the advancement,

a locking plate disposed above said locking ratchet sitting rigidly onsaid locking latch and cooperating in a tumblerlike arrangement withsaid locking ratchet,

pin means adapted to hold said coin in relation to said locking latch,

means for releasing said pin means from said holding positron,

a plate mountable transverse to the direction of movement of saidlocking latch,

a spring-biased operating key disposed accessible from the front side ofsaid lock and coupled with said plate, and

said pin means sitting on said plate.

2. The coin-operated lock, as set forth in claim I, wherein saidoperating key is mounted in said locking latch and runs in a slot guideofsaid lock bottom, to form a guide for said locking latch.

3. The coin-operated lock, as set forth in claim 1, which includes aframe secured to the bottom of said lockbox, and

said operating key is sunk in an opening of said frame.

The coin-operated lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operatingkey moves with its inner end to an escape opening in said lock cover, inorder to lock said operating key against being pushed in in case of adisplacement of said locking latch.

5. A coin-operated lock operable by a key upon inserting a coin,comprising a displaceable locking latch having a recess,

a spring-biased locking ratchet having an angular bent end andreleasably engaging in said recess of said latch,

a locking plate disposed tumblerlike over said locking ratchet and beingcoordinated to said locking ratchet,

said locking plate having projections pointing toward said lockingratchet, being successively toothlike, and being rigidly connected withsaid latch,

an immovable supporting shoulder,

a pin operatively connected to said latch,

said pin and said shoulder arranged to hold a coin and upon start ofmovement of said latch to move said coin so as to raise said lockingratchet,

said pin, supporting shoulder, locking ratchet and locking platearranged such that at a start of advance of said latch, a properly sizedcoin inserted in said coin op'erated lock lifts said ratchet with itsedge out of said recess nonengaging with said projections of saidlocking plate, as well as such that an undersized coin does not raisesaid ratchet out of said recess, thereby preventing movement of saidlocking latch, and such that an oversized coin raises said lockingratchet out of said recess into engagement with one of said projectionsof said locking plate, thereby preventing movement of said latch, and

the latter receiving a pressing key operatively connected to said pinand releasable from the outside for moving said pin out of holdingcooperation with said coin, thereby causing said coin to be returnedaway from its held position by said shoulder and pin.

6. The lock, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pin is operativelyheld on said locking latch,

said coin in a basic position of said locking latch is supported on saidimmovable supporting shoulder,

a coin-storing chamber disposed beneath said supporting shoulder andoperatively connected to said locking latch,

said pin moving said coin in a preliminary closing position of saidlatch over said supporting shoulder away from said holding of said coininto a lower holding position in said coin-storing chamber.

a coin outlet slot in said coin-operated lock,

said coin-storing chamber reaches an aligned position communicating withsaid coin outlet slot in a returned position of said locking latch,whereby said coin is returned.

7. The look, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said projections on saidlocking plate defining a plurality of stepped-up recesses in its on itsbottom side pointing towards said locking ratchet, and

said angular bent end constituting a toothed projection of said lockingratchet extending between two of said stepped-up recesses is disposedabove said supporting shoulder.

8. The lock as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a coin insertslot means,

an inside guide wall of said coin insert slot,

said locking plate extends parallel to and above said inside guide wall.

2. The coin-operated lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidoperating key is mounted in said locking latch and runs in a slot guideof said lock bottom, to form a guide for said locking latch.
 3. Thecoin-operated lock, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a framesecured to the bottom of said lockbox, and said operating key is sunk inan opening of said frame.
 4. The coin-operated lock, as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said operating key moves with its inner end to aneScape opening in said lock cover, in order to lock said operating keyagainst being pushed in in case of a displacement of said locking latch.5. A coin-operated lock operable by a key upon inserting a coin,comprising a displaceable locking latch having a recess, a spring-biasedlocking ratchet having an angular bent end and releasably engaging insaid recess of said latch, a locking plate disposed tumblerlike oversaid locking ratchet and being coordinated to said locking ratchet, saidlocking plate having projections pointing toward said locking ratchet,being successively toothlike, and being rigidly connected with saidlatch, an immovable supporting shoulder, a pin operatively connected tosaid latch, said pin and said shoulder arranged to hold a coin and uponstart of movement of said latch to move said coin so as to raise saidlocking ratchet, said pin, supporting shoulder, locking ratchet andlocking plate arranged such that at a start of advance of said latch, aproperly sized coin inserted in said coin operated lock lifts saidratchet with its edge out of said recess nonengaging with saidprojections of said locking plate, as well as such that an undersizedcoin does not raise said ratchet out of said recess, thereby preventingmovement of said locking latch, and such that an oversized coin raisessaid locking ratchet out of said recess into engagement with one of saidprojections of said locking plate, thereby preventing movement of saidlatch, and a pressing key operatively connected to said pin andreleasable from the outside for moving said pin out of holdingcooperation with said coin, thereby causing said coin to be returnedaway from its held position by said shoulder and pin.
 6. The lock, asset forth in claim 5, wherein said pin is operatively held on saidlocking latch, said coin in a basic position of said locking latch issupported on said immovable supporting shoulder, a coin-storing chamberdisposed beneath said supporting shoulder and operatively connected tosaid locking latch, said pin moving said coin in a preliminary closingposition of said latch over said supporting shoulder away from saidholding of said coin into a lower holding position in said coin-storingchamber, a coin outlet slot in said coin-operated lock, saidcoin-storing chamber reaches an aligned position communicating with saidcoin outlet slot in a returned position of said locking latch, wherebysaid coin is returned.
 7. The lock, as set forth in claim 5, whereinsaid projections on said locking plate defining a plurality ofstepped-up recesses in its on its bottom side pointing towards saidlocking ratchet, and said angular bent end constituting a toothedprojection of said locking ratchet extending between two of saidstepped-up recesses is disposed above said supporting shoulder.
 8. Thelock as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a coin insert slotmeans, an inside guide wall of said coin insert slot, said locking plateextends parallel to and above said said inside guide wall.